B jean raleigh



April 27 1926. 1,582,304

a J. RALEIGH BELT BUCKLE Filed June 8. 1922 amesdo'i Paitented Apr. 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES,

g 1,582,304 PATENT OFFICE. 1

IB JEAN RALEIGH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BELT BUCKLE.

Application filed. June 8,

, T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, B JEAN RALEIGH, a

citizen of. the United States, residing at Vashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt Buckles, of which the follow ing is a specification.

Tlns invention relates to unprovements 1n belt buckles and more particularly to belt buckles that are adjustable to any size and are adapted to frictionally engage the belt not mar or mutilate the belt in any way and will eo-act with the belt of any reasonable desired thickness or thinness, and, furthermore, will positively prevent slipping of the belt regardless of variations in thickness.

-lVith these and other objects in mind, as will appear obvious from the following description, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings illustrating three of various possible embodiments of the invention all operating upon substantially the same principle. 7

In these drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts Fig. 1' is a longitudinal, partial sectional view of one -form of belt buckle;

Fig. 2 is asimilar view of a modified form of buckle;

F ig. 3 is a similar view showing a still vfurther modification. 7

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figurel, 5 denotes the body portion of the belt buckle which is of channel shape in cross section, that is,

provided with upper and lower parts 6 and i and is grippedbetween the belt engaging portion 14 of one member and a lug or thickened portion 15 on the other. N form shown in Figure 1, the part 14 swings about the center 10 on an are, as indicated In the 1922. Serial No." 566,788.

'by the letter R, while the lug or projection 15' has a curved portion between the parts a and b, which is struck from a slightly gradual radius and from a center eccentric to the point 10. 'It will thus be seen that as the men' ber 14. swings relatively towards the right it will gradually approach thepor tion 15 adjacent the letter Z), thus gripping the belt between the parts 14 and 15 regardlessot its thickness.

In the modification shown in Figure 2, the parts between the letters a and b is substantially straight insteadv of being struck on a curve and the part 14 is provided with two gripping teeth 17 and 18, one being slightly longer than the other thereby to more effectively engage the belt. The modification shown in Figure 3 is substantially the same as that above described except that the thickened part preferably extends substantially the entire length of the buckle as at 15 In all of these modifications the primary thought will be self-evident, that is, as tension is exerted upon the belt'the member 14 will be drawn over towards the part 15 regardless of the thickness of the belt, there-,

by to urge a constantly increasing gripping action upon the belt and positively prevent itsslipping. Furthermore, there will be no marks or mutilations left upon the belt as the pressure is so evenly distributed and gradually applied.

It will thus be seen that the present invention providesa simple and practical belt buckle and one that will be eificient and practical in operation, and while I have described my invention in connection with certain preferred embodiments, I wish it understood that I do notlimit my invention to the embodiments shown and described, except in so far as specific limitations may appear in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A belt buckle comprising a plate mem her and a clamping element adapted to frictionally grip a belt therebetween, said plate member having depending side flanges, said clamping element being pivotally mounted in said flanges, said plate member having on its underface an inclined wedging portion, one belt extremity being joined to sald clamping element, the clamplng element being adapted toswing towards and continue to approach said inclined wedging' portion as tension is exerted on they belt,

thereby to more tightly gripthe other end ofzthe belt tlierebetween.

2. A belt buckle comprising a plate member and a clamping element adapted to trictionally: liold "abelt: therebetween,v ,saidii clamping element being pivotally mounted on said )late member said )late member being thickened on its underface to provide a curved surface, said clamping element adapted to gradually approach said curved surface in an are which intersects the line I 'of'curvature- 05 said curved surface at a Sllght distance beyond the termination 01 .=said curved surface, whereby a progressive .v0tallmounted in said flan es said )late member being thickened to provide a curved surface on its under'l'ace, said clamping member, when swung about its pivot point, being adapted ton graduallyeapproach said curved surface as tension is exerted, thereby to more tightly grip the belt therebetween,

clamping member being of ditlterent lengths and from different centers.

4. In a belt buckle, in combination, a face n1'e1nber,"l1aving vertically and longitudinally extending flanges, an L-shaped member pivotally mounted in said flanges,- said facemeniber having' on its inside face a thickened: portion, said iL-shaped' member adapted to swing about itsan'is i'n'a direction opposite to the tensile force exerted by the belt and in an arowhich gradually approaches and continues to approach said thicl-;ened-section to form friction holding means for thebelt.

In testimonywheroofl aflix my signature.

BUEANRALEIGH. 

